So I'd like to take a moment to share some of the work from select amazing students... I've VERY minorly edited them (mostly with spelling and a stray article here and there), but they remain as close to their original state as possible.
These were written in preparation for an upcoming speech contest at our school.
The first two essays come from a 3rd grader:
TIME THAT I WAS GRATEFUL TO MY FAMILY...
I was obliged when I had a Nintendo DS. I was more grateful when I got clothing. But, maybe you didn't expect this. I am most grateful when I am being scolded by my parents. It's an uncommon thing, but it gives me a lesson, and makes me examine [what I did]. You will know that everybody can make a mistake, even a president, even a god.
So many children can make mistakes. But I think there are not many children who are grateful for scolding. Actually, I don't like solding. If I am scolded, it means I did something that's bad. I just think that the effect is just a way of helping children to go [the] right way. I hope my speech was interesting to you.
SANTA'S TRIP WITH SANTA
Santa is snoring very loudly. Santa is dreaming about his trip with his reindeer, Rudolph. Let's go into Santa's dream. Abracadabra! He is putting the presents onto the enrmous jet planes named "Claus." There are 9532580000 jet planes that are each the size of an Empire State Building or a Tower Eiffel or a Chrysler Building. Then, there are sleds in the jet planes. The sleds are programmed to move automatically with no error. They go through the wall, put a present in a sock with a powerful robotic arm. Then it goes away.
Santa is rich, so he has many expensive things. Then, he has all the reindeer in the whole world, and they are servants. They're Santa, the reindeer, and a Ruldolph!
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Wow. And even MORE astonishingly, this next essay comes from a FIRST grader...
I wish that Christmas could be everyday. During Christmas, loved ones get together, sing songs, eat delicious food and give presents to each other- it's a happy time. Furthermore, we can get special gifts from Santa Claus.
If Christmas were only once a year, children might forget that they have to be nice and do many kind things. If Christmas were every day, there would be no more bad things like criminals and war, and the world would be full of love and peace. We wouldn't have to wait until Christmas for Santa Claus.
If children get presents for doing good work, then Santa Claus would not have to do hard work and birng all the presents on one day. Also, there would be no chance for Santa to accidentally forget about delivering presents.
Maybe Santa Claus is sad and lonely all year long. He might want to see us everday, but he can only see us on Christmas Day. If everyday were Christmas, he could visit children often and he would be happy. He would exercise everyday and become more fit and healthy.
If kids are waiting for presents every day, then they would go to bed happily and do good things all the time. But there's one worry for Santa: it would cost him too much money to buy presents everday. But Santa can use magic to change hard work into money, then he doesn't have to worry about it.
Christmas all year long would bring peace and love to everybody.
Merry Christmas! Everday Christmas!!
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Sooooooo, yeah. Wow. These are the students I work with. I'm quite honored!
Also, it's presently snowing outside, which delights the children and myself. :) The school (and lots of Bucheon) is decorated with Christmas trees and the like. It is, indeed, beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. :)
